Bottle closure and pourer



A ril 16, 1963 D. GOLDSTEIN 3,035,721

BOTTLE CLOSURE AND POURER Filed March 17, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 4, INVENTOR. i DAN/EA GOLDSTEM/ I If ZM-r ATTORNEYS April 6, 1963 D. GOLDSTEIN 3,085,721

BOTTLE CLOSURE AND POURER Filed March 17, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 2; FIG.7. FIGS. 9] 2/ INVENTOR. DAN/EL GOLDSTE/N ATTORNEYS April 16, 1963 D. GOLDSTEIN BOTTLE CLOSURE AND POURER 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 17. 1959 FIG. II.

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DA lV/'L G 04 D5 TE/N ATTOR N576 United States Patent 3,085,721 BGTTLE CLOSURE AND POURER Daniel Goldstein, New York, N.Y., assignor to Schenley Industries, Inc, New York, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Filed Mar. 17, 1959, Ser. No. 799,966 8 Claims. (Cl. 222484) This invention relates generally to fitments for containers, and is especially concerned with a highly improved combination bottle closure and pourer.

It is one object of the present invention to provide a combined bottle closure and pourer which is extremely simple and inexpensive in construction, requiring a minimum number of parts, being entirely reliable, automatic and foolproof in operation, and which requires only simple inversion and erection of a bottle to produce accurately controlled pouring.

It is a more particular object of the present invention to provide a device of the type described for closing and pouring from a bottle, which device is intended to remain continuously in place on a bottle throughout its useful life, automatically opening to accurately direct the flow of egressing liquid upon inversion of the bottle, and which will automatically seal the bottle against evaporation and contamination upon return of the bottle to its upright condition at the cessation of pouring.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a device having the advantageous characteristics mentioned in the preceding paragraphs, and which is more positive in its automatic operation, and possesses novel and highly advantageous nondrip characteristics.

It is a more particular object of the present invention to provide a bottle closure and pourer of the type described which can be inexpensively mass produced by existing automatic machinery, and is capable of being formed in two parts which are assembled by a single simple operation.

The invention further contemplates the provision of a combination bottle pourer and closure having the advantages mentioned above, which is highly sanitary, and automatically completely seals the bottle when not in use, against dirt, insects and the like.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following specification and referring to the accompanying drawings, which form a material part of this disclosure.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts, which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of which the scope will be indicated by the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing one element of a bottle closure and pourer constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the element of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view showing another element of a bottle closure and pouring device constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the element of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of the element of FIG. 3, as taken from the left-hand side thereof;

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view showing an assembled combination bottle closure and pourer of the present invention associated with the neck or mouth of a bottle in a shipping or storage condition;

FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view showing an assembled bottle closure and pourer of the present invention in association with a bottle preparatory to use;

FIG. 8 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially along the line 8-8 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a bottle closure and pourer of the present invention on a bottle neck and in operative or pouring condition of use;

FIG. 10 is a longitudinal side elevational view showing a slightly modified element of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a longitudinal sectional view of the element of FIG. 10, taken substantially along the line of 1111 of FIG. 12;

FIG. 12 is a bottom or lower end view of the device of FIGS. 10 and 11; and

FIG. 13 is a longitudinal sectional View showing a bottle closure and pourer of the present invention including the slightly modified element of FIGS. 1042, and a bottle neck in an additional stage of the pouring operation.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, and specifically to FIG. 1 thereof, there is illustrated therein an outer fitment part, generally designated 16, including an open-ended tubular element 11, having on one end a female threaded attachment element or connector 12. The connector or attachment 1?; may be generally cylindrical and provided with internal screw threads 13 for circumposition about and threaded engagement with the neck or mouth of a bottle, as will appear presently. One end of the cylindrical attachment element 12 is open, and the other end is provided with a radially inwardly extending shoulder or centrally open wall 14. v

The tubular element 11 has both ends open and is arranged in end-to-end relation with the attachment element 12, preferably being formed integrally with the wall 14 of the attachment element. That is, the tubular element 11 is integrally secured to the wall 14 of the cylindrical attachment element 12 and opens into the latter. As may be seen in FIG. 2, the tubular element 11 is of a flattened or oblate transverse cross-sectional configuration, and is arranged in substantial alignment or coaxially with the attachment element 12. Further, the tubular element 11 includes an inner region 16 adjacent to and secured directly to or formed integrally with the wall 14 of the attachment element 12, and an outer region 17 remote from the attachment element. The outer or distal region 17 is of a cross-sectional configuration similar to but smaller than that of the inner region 16, being integrally joined to the latter by an intermediate, reducing region 18 which defines an internal peripheral shoulder 19 extending obliquely between and intersecting with the internal surfaces of the inner and outer tubular-element regions 16 and 17. The distal or outer end of the tubular element 11 is obliquely truncated or disposed generally in a plane oblique to the longitudinal extent of the tubular element, as best seen in FIG. 1, and the outer tubular-element end is internally beveled or chamfered to define a peripherally extending seating surface 20. Exteriorly about the outer end of the tubular element 11 there is provided a peripherally extending outstanding lip or projection 21 which lies in the oblique outer-end plane of the tubular element. That is, the lip or extension 21 projects outward beyond the adjacent external surface of the outer region 17 and terminates in a relatively narrow outer or bounding edge. The entire fitment is advantageously integrally fabricated, as by molding, of suitable plastic material, preferably a nonwettable material such as polyethylene.

In FIGS. 35 are shown a separate but component part, generally designated 24, adapted for insertion into the tubular element 11 of the fitment 10, as will appear presently. The part or insert 24- may also be advantageously integrally molded, preferably of nonwetta-ble plastic material such as polyethylene, and includes an elongate body having an ovaloid or oblate transverse cross sectional configuration. The body 25 of the insert 24 has one end surface 26 disposed in a plane generally normal to the longitudinal direction of the body, and has its other end surface 27 disposed in a plane oblique to the longitudinal direction of the body at an angle approximately equal to that of the outer end of tubular element 11 with respect to the longitudinal axis of the latter. Formed interiorly of the body 25 is a passageway 28 which opens through the lower end 26 of the body and extends from the lower body end longitudinally of the body toward the upper body end 27, terminating just short of the latter in an internally spherical or domed surface 29. As best seen in FIG. 4, the passageway 28 is offset from the cross-sectional center of the body 25 toward one side thereof, the front side for purposes of terminology. That is, the longer side of the body 25, as determined by the obliqueness of the upper-end wall 27, will be designated the front side thereof. In addition, the passageway 28 is offset forwardly from the center of the body 25, and is of generally cylindrical internal configuration, so as to open laterally forwardly through the front side of the body 12 at 30. It will be noted that the lateral or forward opening 30 terminates at its upper end short of the upper interiorly domed end region 29 of the passageway 28, and terminates at its lower end short of the lower-end surface 26.

Offset rearward from the center of the cross section of body 25 is a cavity or blind bore 31 which opens through the inner end surface 26 of the body and extends there from upward toward and terminates short of the upper body end surface 27. Extending circumferentially about the upper end of the body 25, substantially flush with the upper-end surface 27 and in the oblique plane thereof, is an outstanding lip or ridge 32 having an upwardly and outwardly inclined or beveled undersurface 33. Extending peripherally about the lower end of the body 25 and having one surface substantially flush with the lower-end surface 26 is an external shoulder or abutment member 34 having a downwardly and outwardly inclined upper surface 35. As best seen in FIG. 5, a plurality of generally parallel, external ribs 36 are formed on the body 25 extending longitudinally thereof between the upper and lower external shoulders 32 and 34. It will be noted that the ribs 36 are spaced apart circumferentially about the body 25, and that the ribs project radially outward from the external surface of the body 25 less than the shoulders, so as to be spaced radially inward from the outer edges of the shoulders.

In the rearward external region of the body 25, remote from the passageway opening 39, are formed a pair of parallel, grooves 39 extending longitudinally of the body from just beneath the upper-end lip or shoulder 32 downward through the lower-end shoulder 34. In addition, an extension or lug 40 depends from the undersurface 26 in the rearward region thereof and has its rearward surface configured to define a pair of grooves 41 forming extensions of the grooves 39. That is, the rear external grooves 39 extend downward entering into the rear external grooves 41, respectively, which open at their lower ends through the undersurface of the lug 49.

In assembly, it is only necessary to pass the part 24 upward through the attachment element 12, into the lower region 16 of the tubular element 11, and then forcibly upward to pass the upper-end shoulder 32 through the reduced upper region 17 of the tubular element 11. This may be easily accomplished manually by reason of the resilient distensibility of the tubular element, and the resilient flexibility of the shoulder 32. In this condition, see FIG. 6, the element 24 is received interiorly of the tubular element 11, the former defining a plug or insert, and the latter providing a casing or sleeve for the former.

The insert or plug 24 is freely shiftable or slidable longitudinally of the tubular element or casing 11, the ribs 36 of the insert engaging with the inner walls of the tubular element to guide sliding movement of the insert and minimize resistance of such movement. Downward or inward movement of the insert 24 relative to the tubular element 11 is limited to the retracted position of FlG. 6 wherein the upper-end shoulder or peripheral lip 32 of the insert seats on the upper-end surface 20 of the tubular element to close and seal the tubular element. Upward or outward sliding movement of the insert 24 is limited to an extended position, see FIG. 9, wherein the lowerend shoulder or abutment 34, and specifically the oblique surface thereof 35 abuts against the internal shoulder 19 of the convergent intermediate tubular-element region 18. In the latter, extended position of the insert 24, see FIG. 9, it will be observed that the lateral opening 30 of the passageway 28 is extended beyond the tubular element 11, thereby opening the passageway to the exterior of the bottle.

In the condition illustrated in FIG. 6, the fitment assembly 16 is employed in a manner eliminating the need for a conventional bottle cap. Thus, it is seen that a sealing disc 44 of fibrous or other suitable material is seated on the upper or outer-end surface of a bottle neck 45 extending across and closing the latter. The attachment element 12 is threadedly circumposed about the distal end or mouth of the bottle neck until the sealing disc 44 is clamped firmly between the bottle-neck end surface and the wall 14. In this condition, the contents of the body are very effectively sealed against evaporation, contamination and the like, suitable for long storage and transit in the same manner as by use of a conventional cap.

When it is desired to utilize the bottle, as for consumption of its contents, it is only necessary to remove the fitment assembly 10 from the bottle neck 45, by unscrewing, and replace the fitment assembly without the disc 44, as illustrated in FIG. 7. While the disc 44 is illustrated in FIG. 6 as of a diameter to engage in the screw threads 13, it is of course appreciated that such discs may be of smaller diameter to be clamped in its sealing condition without engagement in the screw threads, if desired.

The fitment assembly 10 of FIG. 7 carried by the bottle neck 44 is in condition for its intended operation in the pouring or dispensing of liquid from the attached bottle. This operation is easily achieved by mere inversion of the bottle as illustrated in FIG. 9. It will there be seen that the insert 24 has shifted to its extreme outward position with the shoulder 34 engaging the shoulder 19. This outward sliding movement of the insert 24 is instantaneously accomplished gravitationally to effect immediate pouring action; and, the weight of the liquid 46 on the insert serves to positively insure its outward shifting movement upon inversion and retain the insert outward throughout the inverted condition. The possibility of sticking or grabbing of the insert 24 in the tubular element 11 is effectively eliminated by the guide ribs 36, see FIG. 8, which permit only edge contact with the tubular element, the external surface of the insert being spaced at all points from the internal surfaces of the tubular element. That is, the insert 24 is received in spaced relation in the tubular element 11 and maintained in the spaced relation by the guide ribs 36, so that any flat or surface contact between the insert and tubular elements likely to resist sliding movement of the insert is prevented.

In the pouring, extended condition of the insert 24, shown in FIG. 9, it is seen that the cavity 31 becomes full of liquid 46, and that liquid pours or flows outward through the passageway 28, being controlled by and guided between the lips 21 and 32. Simultaneously air is entering between the insert 24 and tubular element 11 through the grooves 3% on the rearward side of the insert remote from the passageway 23, in order to replace and insure free and smooth outgoing flow of the liquid.

Under these conditions, the flow appears to be smooth and of uniform velocity, accurately and neatly guided between the lips 32 and 21 with little or no objectionable dispersion or spray.

Upon return or erection of the bottle, along with the fitment assembly to terminate the pouring, it is apparent that the liquid 46 moves inward or away from the fitment assembly, and that the insert 24 will, by gravity, fall toward its retracted position of FIG. 7. Retraction of the insert is effectively hastened and made more positive by the weight of liquid contained in the blind bore or cavity 31 and held therein by the force of suction. Also, liquid contained in the outlet passageway at the moment of erecting the bottle is effectively prevented from escaping by the domed internal configuration of the passageway for a neater and cleaner cessation of pouring.

While the termination of pouring has been analyzed in detail above, this procedure is instantaneous for immediate termination, and complete shut-off and sealing of the pourer, while the contour of passageway 28 combines with the lip 21 to effectively prevent dripping. pouring operation is completely under the control of the user to minimize spillage and waste.

Of course, it is appreciated that in the condition of FIG. 7, the peripheral upper-end lip 32 seats on the upper-end surface of the tubular element 11 inward of the non-drip lip to effectively close and seal the container 45 without impairing operation of the non-drip lip. Also, the lip 32 seats on the Surface about its entire periphery to close and seal both the liquid outlet 28 and the air inlet grooves 41.

In summary, the following operational characteristics are believed to contribute to the extremely quick and dripless closure of the instant device:

(a) The liquid following curvature of dome 29 to return back into the bottle upon erection of the latter.

(b) Gravity acts upon the liquid to return the latter toward the bottom of the bottle.

(0) Movement of the relatively large bulk of the liquid downward toward the bottom of the bottle creates a vacuum in the bottle, which combines with external air pressure to quickly suck back or return liquid from the outlet passageway into the bottle. I

(d) Liquid in the outlet passageway tends to hold together by cohesion and surface tension and therefore return as a body into the bottle.

(e) Actual closing movement of the insert sliding inward relative to the tubular element 11 provides an additional force pushing the liquid back into the bottle.

In the slightly modified embodiment of FIG. 13, the outer fitment part liia may be substantially identical to the outer fitment part 10 of the first described embodiment. However, the inner part or insert 24a, while being substantially identical to the inner part or insert 24, differs from the latter in certain respects.

The modified insert part 24a is best seen in FIGS. 10-12, and is preferably integrally molded of nonwettable plastic material, such as polyethylene or the like. The insert 24a includes an elongate body 25a of an ovaloid or oblate transverse cross-sectional configuration, similar to the body 25 of the first described embodiment and has its lower end surface 26a disposed in a plane generally normal to the longitudinal direction of the body, while its upper end surface 27a is disposed in a plane oblique to the longitudinal direction of the body at an angle approximately equal to that of the outer end of the tubular element 11a of the outer part 10a, see FIG. 13. The body 25a is formed interiorly with a passageway 28a substantially identical to the passageway 28 of the body 25, and is further formed with a blind bore or cavity 31a substantially identical to the cavity 31 of the first described embodiment. A peripheral upper end lip or ridge 32a extends about the upper end of the body 25a in substantially the same manner as the lip 32 of the body 25, and an external peripherally extending shoulder Obviously,

6. or abutment 35a extends about the lower end of the body 25a, substantially identical to the shoulder or abutment 35 of the body 25. Also, the body 25a is provided with a plurality of longitudinally extending external ribs 36a substantially identical to the ribs 36 of the body 25.

As thus far described, the inner fitment part or insert 24a is substantially identical to the first described insert 24. More specifically, the insert 24a may be entirely identical to the insert 24 except for a skirt 50 depending from the lower end wall 26a. Viewed otherwise, the modified insert 24a may be identical, from its lower end wall 26a upward, to the insert 24, from its lower end wall 26 upward.

The depending skirt 50 is preferably formed integral with the body 25a depending from the lower end surface 26a of the body and extending along the periphery thereof from the rear generally forward along opposite sides and terminating short of the forward or front region of the body. Thus, the skirt 50 depends from the underside of the abutment or shoulder 35 at the rearward region thereof and extends forward along opposite sides thereof toward and terminating short of the forward region thereof. As best seen in FIG. 11, and as is evidenced by the shading in FIG. 12, the skirt 50 has its outer surface 51 depending generally vertical, while its inner surface 52 flares in a downward direction to a sharp lower end edge intersection 53 with the outer surface 51. Thus, the skirt 51 is of a downwardly tapering cross-sectional configuration, and by the nature of the material may be slightly resiliently flexible. The external skirt surface 51 is provided at its rearmost region with a pair of generally vertical grooves 41a opening at their upper ends into the air passageway grooves 39a, corresponding to the grooves 39 of the first described embodiment, and opening at their lower ends through the lowermost edge 53 of the skirt.

The insert part 24a is assembled with the outer part 10a in the same manner as the first described embodiment, it being only necessary to pass the insert part forcibly upward through the tubular element 11a of the outer part. This assembled condition is illustrated in FIG. 13. An initial stage in the pouring operation is also illustrated in FIG. 13, wherein the bottle 45a has just been, or is just being inverted and the first liquid is just being received by the insert 24a. It will there be noted that the liquid initially exerts pressure on the beveled or oblique internal wall 52 of the skirt 50, as illustrated by the arrows 55. This pressure of the liquid causes the skirt 50 and the inner end of the body 25a to swing upward until the external surface 51 of the skirt slidably seats against the adjacent internal surface "of the outer fitment part 10a. Also, the skirt 50 may be flexed outward by this liquid pressure into sealing slidable engagement throughout its extent with the adjacent internal surfaces of the outer fitment part 10a.

In FIG. 13, wherein the bottle 45a has just, or is being inverted, so that the first surge or gush of liquid is entermg the insert 24a, it will be apparent that this first rush of llquid exerts pressure on the inner, funnel-like, beveled wall 52 of the skirt 50, as indicated by the arrows 55,

to'cant or tilt the rearward end of the insert upward for the above mentioned sealing, slidable engagement of the rearward or upper portion of the external surface 51 with the adjacent internal surface of the fitment 10a. Also, this pressure of the liquid serves to deflect or spread outward the forwardly extending side portions of the skirt 50 into sealing, slidable engagement with the adjacent internal surface portions of the outer fitment part 10a. Thus, above the outlet passageway 28a, the skirt 50 effectively seals the insert 24a in the outer fitment part 10a, except for the relatively small air inlet passage ways 41a.

As is evident from FIG. 13, the initial gush of liquid against the beveled internal surface 52 of the skirt 50 effects the above described sliding seal action, and further serves to deflect the liquid into the blind cavity 31a and the outlet passageway 28a. Hence, the skirt 50 not only provides the sealing action, but serves to effect faster extension or projection of the insert 45a by deflecting the initial gush of liquid into the cavity 31a, and faster discharge of liquid through the outlet passageway 23a, both by faster extension of the insert, and by actual deflection of initial liquid into the outlet passageway.

As the insert a is efiectively sealed in the outer fitment part 10a, even during extension of the insert from its closed to its open position and before seating engagement of the abutment 35 on the internal shoulder of the outer fitment part, it is apparent that any spitting or ejection of liquid except the desired discharge through the outlet passageway 28a is effectively prevented or mini mized.

It should be understood that this spitting or ejection of liquid may tend to occur only under a rare combination of circumstances, as in the pouring of highly fluid or relatively light liquids from a bottle which is mostly empty, and wherein the bottle has been inverted extremely suddenly, so that the liquid has a high impact force on the insert. Hence, while the embodiment of FIGS. 10-13 overcomes the possibility of such spitting action, this action does not present a serious problem, even with the embodiment of FIGS. 1-9, under normal conditions of use.

From the foregoing, it is seen that the present invention provides a combination bottle closure and pouring device which fully accomplishes its intended objects and is well adapted to meet practical conditions of manufacture and use.

Although the present invention has been described in some detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity of understanding, it is understood that certain changes and modifications may be made within the spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A combination bottle closure and pourer comprising a tubular element having one end adapted for connection to the neck of the bottle in communication therethrough with the interior of the bottle, and an insert mounted in said tubular element for limited free sliding movement longitudinally of said tubular element between a retracted position and an extended position, said insert being formed with a liquid-outlet passageway opening through the inner end of said insert and extending therefrom toward and terminating short of the outer end of said insert, said liquid-outlet passageway opening laterally from said insert in a region thereof extending beyond and retracting into said tubular element upon sliding movement of said insert, said liquid-outlet passageway being of a cross section substantially less than that of said insert to present an efiective pressure area of said insert to the liquid contents for extending movement of the insert by the liquid upon inversion of the bottle, whereby said liquid-outlet passageway is communicable at its inner end with the interior of the bottle and at its outer end with the exterior of the bottle when said insert is extended, said liquid-outlet passageway being closed when said insert is retracted, said insert being formed with a cavity opening through and extending from the inner end of said insert toward and terminating at a closed end short of the outer end of said insert, whereby said cavity will receive liquid upon inversion of said tubular element during pouring and retain the liquid by vacuum sufficient- 1y to aid in retracting said insert upon erection of said tubular element at the cessation of pouring.

2. A combination bottle closure and pourer comprising a tubular element having one end adapted for connection to the neck of the bottle in communication therethrough with the interior of the bottle, and an insert mounted in said tubular element for limited free sliding movement longitudinally of said tubular element between 0 a retracted position and an extended position, said insert being formed with a liquid-outlet passageway opening through the inner end of said insert and extending therefrom toward and terminating short of the outer end of said insert, said liquid-outlet passageway opening lateral- 1; from said insert in a region thereof extending beyond and retracting into said tubular element upon sliding movement of said insert, said liquid-outlet passageway being of a cross section substantially less than that of said insert to present an effective pressure area of said insert to the liquid contents for extending movement of the insert by the liquid upon inversion of the bottle, whereby said liquid-outlet passageway is communicable at its inner end with the interior of the bottle and at its outer end with the exterior of the bottle when said insert is extended, said liquid-outlet passageway being closed when said insert is retracted, said liquid-outlet passageway extending toward the outer end of said insert slightly beyond the lateral opening of said liquid-outlet passageway to define a recess in the terminal region of said liquid-outlet passageway.

3. In combination, a bottle having an outlet neck, an open-ended tubular element having one end secured in end-to-end relation with the bottle neck for fluid communication between said tubular element and bottle, an insert mounted in said tubular element for limited free sliding movement longitudinally of the latter between a retracted position toward said bottle and an extended position away from said bottle, a peripheral lip on said insert in sealing engagement with said tubular element when said insert is in retracted position, said insert being formed with a liquid-outlet passageway opening through the inner end of said insert and extending therefrom toward and terminating short of the outer end of said insert, said liquid-outlet passageway opening laterally from said insert in a region thereof inward of said peripheral lip and extendible beyond said tubular element when said insert is in its extended position, said liquid-outlet passageway being of a cross section substantially less than that of said insert to present an effective pressure area of said insert to the liquid contents for extending movement of the insert by the liquid upon inversion of the bottle, whereby said liquid-outlet passageway is in communication at its inner end with the interior of said bottle and at its outer end with the exterior of said botle when said insert is extended, said liquid-outlet passageway being closed and sealed when said insert is retracted, an abutment member extending peripherally about said insert adjacent to the inner end thereof and movable into and out of sealing engagement with the interior of said tubular element upon extension and retraction of said insert, said insert and abutment member being formed with an external groove located in a region remote from said liquid-outlet passageway to define an air-inlet passageway, said insert being received in spaced relation within said tubular element, and external ribs on said insert extending longitudinally thereof in guiding engagement with the interior of said tubular element.

4. In combination, a bottle having an outlet neck, an open-ended tubular element having one end secured in end-to-end relation with the bottle neck for fluid communication between said tubular element and bottle, an insert mounted in said tubular element for limited free sliding movement longitudinally of the latter between a retracted position toward said bottle and an extended position away from said bottle, a peripheral lip on said insert in sealing engagement with said tubular element when said insert is in retracted position, said insert being formed with a liquid-outlet passageway opening through the inner end of said insert and extending therefrom toward and terminating short of the outer end of said insert, said liquid-outlet passageway opening laterally from said insert in a region thereof inward of said peripheral lip and extendible beyond said tubular element when said insert is in its extended position, said liquid-outlet passageway being of a cross section substantially less than that of said insert to present an effective pressure area of said insert to the liquid contents for extending movement of the insert by the liquid upon inversion of the bottle, whereby said liquid-outlet passageway is in communication at its inner end with the interior of said bottle and at its outer end with the exterior of said bottle when said insert is extended, said liquid-outlet passageway being closed and sealed when said insert is retracted, an abutment member extending peripherally about said insert adjacent to the inner end thereof and movable into and out of sealing engagement with the interior of said tubular element upon extension and retraction of said insert, said insert and abutment member being formed with an external groove located in a region remote from said liquidoutlet passageway to define an air-inlet passageway, said insert being formed with a cavity opening through and extending from the inner end of said insert toward and terminating in a closed end short of the outer end of said insert, whereby said cavity will receive liquid upon inversion of said tubular element during pouring and retain the liquid by vacuum sufiiciently to aid in retracting said insert upon return of said tubular element to its upright condition at the cessation of pouring.

5. A combination bottle closure and pourer comprising a tubular element having one end adapted for connection to the neck of the bottle in communication therethrough with the interior thereof, and an insert mounted in said tubular element for limited free sliding movement longitudinally of said tubular element between a retracted position and an extended position in response to the attitude thereof, said insert being formed with a liquidoutlet passageway opening through the inner end of said insert and extending eccentrically therefrom toward and terminating short of the outer end of said insert, said liquid-outlet passageway opening laterally from said insert in a region thereof inward of the outer end thereof and extendably beyond said tubular element upon sliding movement of said insert to said extended position, said liquid-outlet passageway being of a cross section substantially less than that of said insert to present an effective pressure area of said insert to the liquid contents for free extending movement of the insert by the liquid upon inversion of the bottle, whereby said liquid outlet passageway is communicable at its inner end with the interior of the bottle and at its outer end with the exterior of the bottle when said insert is extended, said liquid-outlet passageway being closed by said tubular element when said insert is retracted.

6. A combination bottle closure and pourer comprising a tubular element having one end adapted for con nection to the neck of the bottle in communication therethrough with the interior thereof, and an insert mounted in said tubular element for limited free sliding movement longitudinally of said tubular element between a retracted position and an extended position in response to the attitude thereof, said insert being formed with a liquid-outlet passageway opening through the inner end of said insert and extending eccentrically therefrom toward and terminating short of the outer end of said insert, said liquidoutlet passageway opening laterally from said insert in a region thereof inward of the outer end thereof and extendably beyond said tubular element upon sliding movement of said insert to said extended position, said liquidoutlet passageway being of a cross section substantially less than that of said insert to present an effective pressure area of said insert to the liquid contents for free extending movement of the insert by the liquid upon inversion of the bottle, whereby said liquid-outlet passageway is communicable at its inner end with the interior of the bottle and at its outer end with the exterior of the bottle when said insert is extended, said liquid-outlet passageway being closed by said tubular element when said insert is retracted, said insert having a peripheral lip on its outer end 10 movable into and out of seating engagement with a complementary formed outer end of said tubular element upon the retraction and extension of said insert, respectively.

7. A combination bottle closure and pourer comprising a tubular element having one end adapted for connection to the neck of the bottle in communication therethrough with the interior thereof, and an insert mounted in said tubular element for limited free sliding movement longitudinally of said tubular element between a retracted position and an extended position in response to the attitude thereof, said insert being formed with a liquid-outlet passageway opening through the inner end of said insert and extending eccentrically therefrom toward and terminating short of the outer end of said insert, said liquid-outlet passageway opening laterally from said insert in a region thereof inward of the outer end thereof and extendably beyond said tubular element upon sliding movement of said insert to said extended position, said liquid-outlet passageway being of a cross section substantially less than that of said insert to present an effective pressure area of said insert to the liquid contents for free extending movement of the insert by the liquid upon inversion of the bottle, whereby said liquid-outlet passageway is communicable at its inner end with the interior of the bottle and at its outer end with the exterior of the bottle when said insert is extended, said liquid-outlet passageway being closed by said tubular element when said insert is retracted, each of said insert and tubular element being of one-piece integrally molded plastics construction.

8. In combination, a bottle having an outlet neck, an open-ended tubular element having one end secured in end-to-end relation with the bottle neck for fluid communication between said tubular element and bottle, an insert mounted in said tubular element for limited free sliding movement longitudinally of the latter between a retracted position toward said bottle and an extended position away from said bottle, a peripheral lip on said insert in sealing engagement with said tubular element when said insert is in retracted position, said insert being formed with a liquid-outlet passageway opening through the inner end of said insert and extending therefrom toward and terminating short of the outer end of said insert, said liquid-outlet passageway opening laterally from said insert in a region thereof inward of said peripheral lip and extendible beyond said tubular element when said insert is in its extended position, said liquid-outlet passageway being of a cross section substantially less than that of said insert to present an effective pressure area of said insert to the liquid contents for extending movement of the insert by the liquid upon inversion of the bottle, whereby said liquid-outlet passageway is in communication at its inner end with the interior of said bottle and at its outer end with the exterior of said bottle when said insert is extended, said liquid-outlet passageway being closed and sealed when said insert is retracted, an abutment member extending peripherally about said insert adjacent to the inner end thereof and movable into and out of sealing engagement with the interior of said tubular element upon extension and retraction of said insert, said insert and abutment member being formed with an external groove located in a region remote from said liquid-outlet passageway to define an air-inlet passageway.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,468,534 Lang Sept. 18, 1923 2,574,990 Waite Nov. 13, 1951 2,790,582 Halpern Apr. 30, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 331,534 Italy Nov. 8, 1935 790,094 Great Britain Feb. 5, 1958 

1. A COMBINATION BOTTLE CLOSURE AND POURER COMPRISING A TUBULAR ELEMENT HAVING ONE END ADAPTED FOR CONNECTION TO THE NECK OF THE BOTTLE IN COMMUNICATION THERETHROUGH WITH THE INTERIOR OF THE BOTTLE, AND AN INSERT MOUNTED IN SAID TUBULAR ELEMENT FOR LIMITED FREE SLIDING MOVEMENT LONGITUDINALLY OF SAID TUBULAR ELEMENT BETWEEN A RETRACTED POSITION AND AN EXTENDED POSITION, SAID INSERT BEING FORMED WITH A LIQUID-OUTLET PASSAGEWAY OPENING THROUGH THE INNER END OF SAID INSERT AND EXTENDING THEREFROM TOWARD AND TERMINATING SHORT OF THE OUTER END OF SAID INSERT, SAID LIQUID-OUTLET PASSAGEWAY OPENING LATERALLY FROM SAID INSERT IN A REGION THEREOF EXTENDING BEYOND AND RETRACTING INTO SAID TUBULAR ELEMENT UPON SLIDING MOVEMENT OF SAID INSERT, SAID LIQUID-OUTLET PASSAGEWAY BEING OF A CROSS SECTION SUBSTANTIALLY LESS THAN THAT OF SAID INSERT TO PRESENT AN EFFECTIVE PRESSURE AREA OF SAID INSERT TO THE LIQUID CONTENTS FOR EXTENDING MOVEMENT OF THE INSERT BY THE LIQUID UPON INVERSION OF THE BOTTLE, WHEREBY SAID LIQUID-OUTLET PASSAGEWAY IS COMMUNICABLE AT ITS INNER END WITH THE INTERIOR OF THE BOTTLE AND AT ITS OUTER END WITH THE EXTERIOR OF THE BOTTLE WHEN SAID INSERT IS EXTENDED, SAID LIQUID-OUTLET PASSAGEWAY BEING CLOSED WHEN SAID INSERT IS RETRACTED, SAID INSERT BEING FORMED WITH A CAVITY OPENING THROUGH AND EXTENDING FROM THE INNER END OF SAID INSERT TOWARD AND TERMINATING AT A CLOSED END SHORT OF THE OUTER END OF SAID INSERT, WHEREBY SAID CAVITY WILL RECEIVE LIQUID UPON INVERSION OF SAID TUBULAR ELEMENT DURING POURING AND RETAIN THE LIQUID BY VACUUM SUFFICIENTLY TO AID IN RETRACTING SAID INSERT UPON ERECTION OF SAID TUBULAR ELEMENT AT THE CESSATION OF POURING. 